I Became the Academy's Disabled Student-Chapter 356.1: Master’s Grace (3) (bonus)

"Ggeut, o, oook...!"

'...?!'

Daera, startled by the unexpected sound, fell from the door.

'What, what, what is that sound?'

What kind of beastly noise is coming from the professor's room?

She couldn't hide her confusion and quickly cupped her ears.

Of course, other races also lived in this mansion. Fairies, spirits, and even unicorns were known to reside here, just like a fantastical garden.

Even considering that, it didn’t make sense.

Could it really be the unicorn making such a sound? Could they possibly have brought a unicorn into the room at this late hour...?

"Oh, guh, uuk, oook...!"

'......?'

After a moment of thinking, even as she covered her ears with her hands, her amplified hearing clearly picked up the sounds inside the room.

Hearing the strange, awful cry again, Daera realized that the sound felt oddly familiar.

More specifically, the source of the voice...

'...Professor?'

At that moment, Daera’s eyes widened as she recalled the name of her mentor, Artla.

The moment she thought of Artla, the voice became distinct, as if a filter had been removed.

'...Uh...'

Having lived through hardships and developed survival instincts, Daera still remembered the basics of common knowledge she learned at the Academy.

Major historical events, the distinction between dungeons and monsters, mana and unique abilities, how to open a bank account, how to read a contract.

How to conceive a child.

The sound she was hearing now...

'Heuk...'

As Daera reached the answer, a thunderclap struck her mind.

Her throat, which had been breathing, suddenly tightened. Worse yet, she covered her mouth, which had fallen open in shock.

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'Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God...!'

She had long known that Artla and Ihayul shared a certain kind of relationship. They never tried to hide it, nor did they deny it, so it made sense.

But she never imagined they’d already have gone this far.

'No, they might’ve already...'

The sudden behavior of Artla today.

The way she forcefully grabbed Ihayul’s jaw, pulling him in to steal a kiss... the behavior of the mentor, Artla, had been shocking and assertive, but perhaps it came from a place of familiarity.

'So, the reason Ihayul was called...?'

Ihayul, who had been offered an apology by Daera, was called into the room by Artla’s summons. That summons was most likely related to this... thing.

After processing the series of events, Daera rolled her eyes.

She had overheard something she shouldn't have.

Confident in her own sense of decency, Daera knew that intimate relationships between men and women were private matters that shouldn’t be overheard.

She should go back...

"......"

Though logically she thought that, her legs wouldn't move at the provocative sound reaching her ears.

The familiar voice of Artla. Even amid the confusion of isolation, the voice of her mentor had clung to her memory and never faded.

That voice now felt unfamiliar.

No, at first, she hadn’t even recognized it.

She had mistaken it for the cries of a beast.

'...What is that sound?'

Even now, she couldn’t dismiss the doubt.

Is it really Artla? Am I just imagining it? If it’s really her, what on earth is she doing to make such a sound?

Her primal curiosity overcame her sense of what was appropriate.

That curiosity stirred something deep within her.

Zziiizzz...!

For a moment, the sound of thunder filled Daera's mind, overpowering all other noise. A bolt of lightning seemed to burst forth in front of her eyes.

It was an instant.

As Daera's eyes widened at the sudden phenomenon, her vision pierced through the door, allowing her to see clearly inside.

Her sight became sharper, and her perception cut through both matter and magic.

But she had no time to be surprised.

As she confirmed the scene in her line of sight, Daera’s eyes bulged wide.

It was as if she were looking down from the sky. Unintentionally, she saw everything she didn’t wish to.

‘Heh, heuk...’

Frozen in shock, Daera locked eyes with Artla for a moment.

She reflexively held her breath but soon realized something was strange.

The golden eyes... they weren’t glowing.

It was golden, yes, but they weren't sparkling. It wasn’t the composed and calm gaze she was used to from her mentor.

They were dull and sticky, like molten gold slowly dripping, the eyes no longer sharp, barely open in a half-sleeping state.

In those eyes, there was no sign of reason, not even a hint of clarity.

If she had opened the door and looked at Artla, she wouldn't have been able to see Daera.

‘......’

The thunderclap echoed, and Daera's vision wavered wildly.

For Daera, Artla was someone precious.

An orphan who lost her parents in an accident, but her fate changed when she awakened and entered the Academy.

Her luck had guided her, but Daera, as a child, had still felt her future was uncertain.

At that time, by chance, she met Artla.

Artla taught Daera many things. Not only the basics of strength but also the spiritual fulfillment she gained simply by being with Artla.

Artla had been her teacher and protector.

According to Artla’s philosophy, one might even say she was like a parent who raised Daera.

Chuk...!

Daera’s perception of her teacher, Artla, had been forever altered with a jarring crack.

The recognition and respect she had for Artla changed after the incident this morning, but the change now was far more intense.

Daera couldn't tear her gaze away from Artla’s face for a while.

"Chirp chirp!"

The sound of birds chirping could be heard. Was it a sparrow? The sound was bright, like a musical instrument.

Though the mansion was protected by strong magic, birds also lived on the grounds. It was the chirping sound that greeted the morning every day.

‘......’

As the chirping reached her ears from outside the window, Artla lazily blinked, her gaze flickering to the sunlight spilling onto the bed.

She briefly glanced around.

The bed was spotless, with no stains. The room was neat, and the air was fresh and clear.

People are forgetful creatures, and less intense, ordinary memories are easily forgotten.

Meaning, the more intense the memory, the longer it lingers.

‘Damn it.’

The memory of the previous night would be one that Artla would forever remember.

Her face flushed with the indecent thoughts that arose in her mind.

‘Oh my God...’

Denial crept in naturally.

Such intense, shameful, and vulgar memories. Could that really have been her?

She couldn't believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. But the sensations, the pleasure, and the exhilaration she felt at the time were far too vivid to deny.

There were even marks left on her body.

The sensations that had been pressed down in her lower body still lingered, and... then...

"Ugh..."

"Hah..."

Artla, absentmindedly placing a hand on her rear, jolted and trembled as a sound came from her chest.

The warmth of Ihayul, nestled in her arms, felt so soft against her skin. Looking down, she saw the pure white hair tickling her chest.

"Koo..."

Ihayul, still soundly asleep.

It was hard to believe that this pure expression belonged to the person who had brought such unforgettable pleasure and shame to Artla the night before.

"Chwe..."

Absentmindedly pressing his cheeks, his lips popped out, and his eyelids fluttered slightly, revealing his gray eyes.

As his eyes slowly opened, the faint light illuminated Artla’s face.

"Hee, hehe... Mentor..."

Ihayul, who had been snuggling comfortably in her arms, smiled widely as his lips curled up.

It was the usual Ihayul.

"Did you sleep well...?"

Then, raising his head from her chest, he gave a bright morning greeting. It seemed like he was fully awake now, his words becoming clearer.

"...Yeah, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, I slept very well! Hehe..."

A smile as bright as the morning sun spread across his face.

Ihayul, now smiling even more broadly, nestled further into her embrace.

Habitually, Artla held him close, but somehow, he seemed to be acting more spoiled than usual today.

"Do you remember what happened yesterday?"

"..."

When she gently brushed his hair and asked, his playfulness stopped abruptly. Ihayul hesitated for a moment, then buried his face deeper into her chest.

"Uh... Yes..."

As Ihayul mumbled in a tiny voice, his red ears peeked out from his white hair.

The awkwardness and shyness in his actions made Artla chuckle.

"...Does it still hurt?"

"Is that what you say after slapping your mentor's behind like that?"

"Ugh..."

When she playfully pulled his cheek, Ihayul whined, exaggerating his discomfort. Artla, smiling, gently grabbed his cheek and kissed him on the lips.

"Mm, um... smooch..."

Ihayul trembled slightly, but unlike yesterday, he relaxed into the soft kiss, his eyes slowly softening.

It was almost like seeing a completely different person.

"Ha..."

Even though last night was embarrassing, Artla felt a sense of satisfaction, as if a wall that had never existed before had crumbled.

Mentor and student. Together, they had moved forward, even deeper into their bond.

Now, Artla couldn’t imagine living without Ihayul. She thought positively about their relationship.

Knock, knock!

That was when it happened.

Someone knocked on the door, and power was exerted on the door as someone outside called.

"Artla? You slept in late today, huh? Even if there’s no lecture, shouldn’t you be getting up soon?"

"Ah."

The voice of Riana. Artla jolted and quickly looked at the clock on the wall.

It was late in the morning. If she didn’t hurry and get dressed, she might miss her academic schedule.

"Oh, and by the way! Our Ihayul is still asleep, huh? He used to wake up even if he was weak in the mornings, but who did he sleep so deeply with today?"

"..."

Riana’s voice murmured as if to be heard.

Hearing the commotion beyond the door, Artla’s lips pressed shut.